Cross-slab in Lemanaghan

A monastery at Lemanaghan (Liath Manchán) was founded in the 7th century by Manchán whose feastday is celebrated on the 24th of January (Ó Riain 2011, 429). Early Christian cross-inscribed slab currently located inside the disused Lemanaghan schoolhouse. A sixth/seventh century date for this slab was suggested by Kelly who described the stone in 1988 as following; 'Lemanaghan 2: broken and very worn slab, maximum dimensions 46.5 by 29.5cm and 5cm thick, with design of an encircled cross carved in false relief on one broad surface. The cross, surrounded by two concentric circles, 29cm and 24cm in maximum diameter, is equal-armed with broad expanded terminals, the carving of the terminals creating bell-shaped areas in the quadrants. A shallow, almost circular depression has been worked at the centre of the cross' (Kelly 1988, 93). Kelly (1988, 97) recorded that this cross-inscribed stone is not the same slab as the stone (OF015-004033-) described by Crawford (1911, 152-3) which is very similar but a bit larger. The stone described by Crawford is now missing. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O’Brien Date of revised upload: 17 August 2018

Probably from the early Christian period (7th to 10th century), the cross-slab is associated with the monastery founded by Saint Manchán and may have served a liturgical or commemorative function. It reflects the spread of Christianity in the region and is linked to local saints and traditions.